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Sodium hypochlorite

Sodium hypochlorite is a green/yellow liquid with the characteristic smell of chlorine. It was first used as a bleaching agent and was then discovered to be effective in controlling wound infections. Subsequently, it is most commonly known as household bleach. The solution exhibits broad spectrum anti‐microbial activity and is widely used in healthcare facilities in a variety of settings. It is usually diluted in water depending on its intended use.
In the chemical injection arena, it is common to inject sodium hypochlorite into sea water. Sea water can contain dissolved oxygen, bacteria and solids. These can affect an oil reservoirs life. Hypo is used as a bactericide whilst filters take care of the solids. Hypo is aggressive before it is diluted in the sea water and therefore requires some specialized devices in terms of wetted materials.
Litre Meter have been manufacturing flowmeters since 1975.
We’ve always concentrated on the harder margins of metering typically at low flows and/or at high pressure. For this application note Litre Meter illustrate two solutions to this application based on <20 % solution.

Sodium Hypochlorite Flowmeters ‐ Applications and Rates ‐ VFF

The VFF has successfully metered fluids such as oils, hydraulic fluids, corrosion / wax / demulsifier / pour point dispenser /scale / hydrate inhibitors, biocides, oxygen scavengers, etc. for over 30 years. Meter bodies are produced in a variety of high grade materials which offer good chemical and environmental resistance. For sodium hypochlorite, Litre Meter recommend Titanium for the body and chamber with carbon graphite for the actual rotary piston. This ensures maximum compatibility, life and accurate response. The magnet is either encapsulated in titanium or PTFE.
Applications for flow‐rates as low as 0.5 litres per hour have been supplied. Normal minimum flow rates depend on operating viscosity. In this case, viscosity is assumed to be between 1 and 2.5cP. Using the smallest VFF with carbon graphite rotor (LF15) and calibrating on water, which has a lower viscosity than NaOCl, a range of 0.5 to 40 L/hr is achieved.
The meters range in size from the smallest titanium body, LF15 – 40 L/hr, to the largest V270 ‐ 270 L/min max. Higher flow‐rate meters are available to special order. The table on the last page assists in the selection of the best technology.

Litre Meter started manufacturing the Pelton Wheel turbine in 1975. These usually had some stainless steel components together with a plastic rotor, elastomer seals and sapphire bearings. All plastic versions soon followed, including all Polypropylene, all PFA, all PVC and all PVDF. The other wetted parts are still sapphire with a suitable elastomer such as FKM or FFKM for the single O ring seal.
The normal specification for Sodium Hypochlorite compatible Pelton Wheel flow meters is now PVC for the main body and cap with PVC or titanium internals, sapphire bearings, an FKM O‐ring and PFA rotor.
The Pelton Wheel is an economical device with low pressure ratings and needs to have relatively steady state non‐pulsing flows.
The table on the last page assists in the selection of the best technology.

Compatible Materials

Due to the nature of Sodium Hypochlorite only a select group of tested materials is recommended by Litre Meter. We tailor our meters using three key materials, developed over 30 years of measuring Sodium Hypochlorite:

These material make up the body and the cap of the meter. The seals between the meter body and cap are normally FKM. Other seal materials include FFKM and PTFE. All Seals within the meter are fully compatible with Sodium Hypochlorite.

Flow ranges and references

All Litre Meter manufactured flowmeters are custom calibrated across the customer specified minimum to maximum flow conditions and working viscosity. The minimum flow rates achievable are dependent on fluid viscosity. With sodium hypochlorite, in most normal concentrations, water is used as the calibration medium as this proves to be the best for accurate calibration representation. The table below assists in selecting which technology is preferred.
Normal engineering materials like 304 and 316 stainless steel, aluminium, brass and steel are unsuitable due to the aggressive nature of the free chlorine in the Sodium Hypochlorite. Plastics such as PVC and PTFE are suitable together with Hastelloy C and purer grades of Titanium.

Comparison Table:

Table showing selection criteria for Sodium Hypochlorite meters in two different flow technologies.

Litre Meter can provide optimum solutions for a wide range of flow rates of Sodium Hypochlorite. Using a variety of materials, a flowmeter can be constructed that handles any specific concentration of NaOCl and provide a display and/or output for measurement and control. For references etc please download our brochure.

Litre Meter’s ability to highly customise its meters has led to the company winning a significant order to supply meters to a company that produces hydraulic systems to the oil and gas industry. The fluid to be measured was Castrol Transaqua HT 2, with a viscosity of 3,95 cSt at 20 degree Celsius. The meters were bespoke slimline ones with a wide turn-down to allow for additional meters on a skid.

VFF positive displacement meters had to be made to operate at different pressures and flow ranges with different connections ranging from a VFF8 meter with a design pressure of 44 Bar, a scale of 0.3-30L/min with 25mm Female BSPP or equivalent size connections up to HP20 Flowmeters designed to work at a pressure of 950 Bar with a scale of 0.1-10L/min and 3/8” MP Autoclave connections.

All the flowmeters were located and certified for in Zone 2, Gas group IIB and Temperature class T3 so had to be EEx D or E. The minimum accuracy had to be within ±1.0% of full scale and the meters were constructed from 316SS quality stainless steel for all wetted parts.

The solutions provided were:

VFF8/690bar/AGPVD/V/9/16″AE MP

VFF8/1035Bar/AGPVD/V/9/16AE MP

HF20/207Bar/AGPDV/V/1″NPT all with

Fpod-RS-15-OC-I-H1-ATEX-V

Significantly we were able to offer measurement over the whole of the flow ranges required which competing flowmeter manufacturers were not able to deliver. In addition, the bespoke slimline VFF8 1035bar on drawing enabled the end user to get an additional meter on the skid without having to increase the available space.